Thousands gather to commemorate first Black Tiger

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 July 2003, 14:50 GMT]More than five thousand people gathered in Nelliyadi, Jaffna Saturday evening to commemorate the first Black Tiger of the Liberation Tigers, Capt. Miller. “The Black Tigers are the strongest force of a much weakened people”, said Mr. Amithaab, an LTTE official in Jaffna, addressing a ceremony in Nelliyadi Saturday morning at the site where the first Black Tiger destroyed a Sri Lanka army position, killing more than fourty soldiers in 1987.

Capt. Miller’s mother and Mr C. Ilamparithi, the head of the LTTE political division in Jaffna, garlanded his statue which was erected last year at the site of the attack in the Nelliyadi Central College.

A memorial stone was unveiled by Mr. R. Thaya, the head of the LTTE political division for Vadamaradchi, around 7. 30 p.m.

Hundreds of people from the town of Nelliyadi along with local officials and members of the Liberation Tigers took part in the ceremony in the morning to commemorate Capt. Miller.

The lamp to inaugurate this function was lit by Ms. T. Kalyani, the head of the Sea Tigers’ political wing for Jaffna’s Vadamaradchi division.

The Thamil Eelam national flag was hoisted by Commander Lawrence, from the LTTE’s policy dissemination division at the morning ceremony.

Meanwhile the people of Capt. Miller’s village, Thamaraikulam in Thunnalai and those of Kalikai Junction organised a sports event in honour of their kinsman.

In the evening, the Black Tigers day was celebrated at Uduthurai Senthamil Sports Ground in Vadamarachchi east. Addressing the event Tamil National
Alliance Jaffna district parliamentarian Mr.M.K.Sivajilingam said," it is
our duty to strengthen our army, the LTTE".